This wedding celebrated love, culture, and unforgettable memories, all set in the vibrant town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Alexandria and Leandro deeply connected to their Mexican roots, chose this charming destination to bring together family and friends. From the very start, the weekend was filled with joy, excitement, and moments of pure magic. From a lively welcome parade to a heartfelt ceremony and reception, every detail was carefully crafted to create an experience that will be cherished for years to come.
Location: Guanajuato, Mexico
Style: Mexican, colorful and vibrant
Time of planning: 14 months
Number of guests: 100
Setting: Instituto Allende
Season: Spring
Alexandria and Leandro’s story began on Bumble, where Alexandria wasn’t initially impressed by Leandro’s peace sign photos, but something about him stood out. After swiping right, they instantly connected, and what was meant to be a quick drink turned into six hours of bar hopping and deep conversation. They discovered their families shared connections that felt like fate.
After six years of dating, Leandro was ready to propose, and in spring 2021, after asking Alexandria’s parents for permission, he planned a surprise Christmas trip to London and Paris. On the big day, Alexandria came down with a cold but agreed to take photos on their hotel balcony. Freezing in the cold, she joked, “Hurry up! I’m freezing!”—unaware of Leandro’s plan. As he dropped to one knee, she kept repeating, “Is this real? Is this for real?” before finally saying yes.
Vision & Photography
The couple fell in love with San Miguel de Allende for its beauty and culture, making it the perfect spot for their destination wedding. They hired Fer De Jesus as their photographer, recommended by their planner, and were thrilled with their choice. “One look at his website and I knew we’d work great together,” they said. He captured every moment with energy and care, even staying late to ensure nothing was missed. “He was so respectful during the morning of the wedding,” they recalled, and the photos from the ceremony, reception and the party are memories they’ll treasure forever.
"Every detail and emotion was caught in the coolest way. One thing that we're both so grateful for was how he focused on our guests as well! I cannot recommend Fer and his team enough. He will preserve your wedding weekend memories in the most perfect way."
Callejoneada
One of the weekend’s highlights was the unforgettable welcome night, which started with a Callejoneada—a vibrant tradition unique to Guanajuato. The bride and groom led a parade through the streets, dancing and singing with their guests.
They had everything from giant mojiganga puppets made for them, to mariachis, a donkey, streamers, and maracas. It was the perfect way to set the tone for the weekend. The parade wound through a beautiful park before they all made their way to the welcome cocktail venue for drinks, food, and speeches.
Wedding Day
Couple's Morning & Fashion
Alexandria’s wedding morning was filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments with her family and bridesmaids. Her bridal look was absolutely stunning. She had always dreamed of wearing a dress by a Spanish designer, and after following Rosa Clara for a while, she knew she had to try on her gowns. She found the perfect one at Le Marriage Couture in Santa Monica—the first dress she tried on. It was an A-line gown with layered lace, reminiscent of the Jalisco Ribbon Dresses worn in folklorico dancing.
Her makeup, by DaniPal Makeup, achieved the warm, natural look she envisioned, and her hair—also done by DaniPal—was styled in a loose, low bun, adorned with roses as a surprise touch to tie in with the Dia de Las Rosas theme. Her bouquet, designed by Estela Maldonado of Bougainvillea Weddings, was a stunning all-rose arrangement that perfectly complemented her look.
Leandro’s wedding suit was custom-made at The Grotto Menswear in El Segundo, CA. He didn’t want a traditional black suit, as the wedding was far from a conventional black-tie affair. Instead, he chose a timeless classic—chocolate brown—to complement the vibrant colors of the wedding and the charm of San Miguel. He wore the suit with vintage Gucci loafers and accessories that added a touch of personal history: a vintage Rolex, a gold art deco pinky ring, and a simple brown silk tie.
Ceremony
The ceremony was everything the couple had dreamed of. Held at the Instituto Allende, the venue was perfect—everything they wanted in one place. They had always imagined an outdoor ceremony, and with the cobblestone streets of San Miguel, they didn’t want to have guests walking to another location for the reception.
Not having a first look made the moment even more surreal, and seeing each other for the first time at the altar was overwhelming. Leandro couldn’t stop crying, while Alexandria couldn’t wipe the smile off her face, fueled by the adrenaline. Surrounded by their wedding parties—nine bridesmaids and nine groomsmen—and a dear friend who officiated, the couple exchanged vows. “To this day, reading our vows and sharing that moment with all our loved ones” remains one of their most cherished memories from the weekend.
Cocktail Hour
As soon as the ceremony ended, mariachis began playing right after their “first kiss,” setting the perfect tone for the evening. The music instantly energized everyone, and it was the ideal way to start the cocktail hour. The whole group then paraded into the reception area, filled with excitement and joy.
Special Moments
The couple had countless special moments throughout their wedding weekend, each filled with emotion and meaning. Every moment felt unforgettable, from the magic of San Miguel to having all their loved ones travel to this special place to celebrate them. They cherished the time spent with their parents and bridal parties that morning, but nothing compared to the second when Alexandria and Leandro first locked eyes as she walked down the aisle—a moment that still gives them chills. Photographer Fer De Jesus expertly captured every beautiful detail of the day.
"He captured every special moment, but still gave us all the space to feel like we were in our own little magical world at the same time."
Reception Decor
The reception decor was absolutely breathtaking. As guests entered, they were greeted by a charming hand-painted dance floor adorned with roses that perfectly matched the wedding colors. Above, a garden canopy draped with white flowers and Mexican star lanterns created an enchanting atmosphere. Beautifully set tables surrounded the space, with a circular bar as the centerpiece. Elevated on the brick stairs behind was a stunning long table, while the cocktail area on the balcony offered breathtaking views of the Parroquia. Guests were welcomed with signature cocktails and appetizers, setting the perfect tone for the evening.
"Walking into our reception was truly an “I’m speechless” moment. Our guests even still talk about how surreal it was!"
Celebration
Two Spanish guitar players accompanied dinner, creating the perfect atmosphere for the evening. While most of the speeches were shared the night before, the Best Men, Maid of Honor, and Father of the Bride saved their heartfelt words for this special night.
For their first dance, the couple chose “Downtown” by Magical Cloudz, a song that had special meaning to them. “I put it on a CD for Leandro on our first ‘official’ date,” Alexandria recalled. “He always said it reminded him of me.” It became their song over the years. Despite being nervous—”I had no idea what we were going to do,” she admitted, since they hadn’t practiced—the moment was magic. When the song ended, they looked around, “and there was no dry eye in sight.”
After dinner, speeches, and their first dance, the party started. The couple cut a simple three-tiered cake, but the real draw was the dessert table and the tequila and mezcal station—“Highly suggest!” they laughed. Guests signed a taco cookbook as the guest book, and “So many pictures were drawn, and everyone loved picking which recipe page to write on,” they fondly remembered.
With a great DJ keeping the energy high, everyone danced until 2 a.m. The night ended with a highlight: late-night al pastor tacos from one of Guanajuato’s top chefs. “To this day, many of our guests still say it was the best tacos they’ve ever had,” they smiled.
"It was unique to us simply because it was about us. We didn’t do anything too out of the ordinary, but what made it so special was just the simpleness of it all."
Advice from the couple:
• Enjoy your engagement. Don’t feel like you need to rush into the planning process right away.
• Approach everything with a bit of a sense of humor if you can. Planning is serious stuff and can be extremely stressful at times, but it definitely helps.
• Things are going to come up on your wedding weekend. Your guests will never know if something was “off”! Everything will seem perfect to them because they’re simply there to celebrate your love!
• And most importantly, find a moment just for the two of you on your wedding day.
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER Fer de Jesus | VENUE Instituto Allende | PLANNING Estela Maldonado at Bougainvillea Weddings | VIDEO Peppermint Weddings | FLORALS Bougainvillea Weddings | MUAH DaniPal Makeup | MUAH DaniPal Makeup | DRESS Rosa Clara | SUIT The Grotto Menswear | ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER Celina Kenyon | WEDDING RINGS Talisman Collection
